A Comparative Analysis of Farmer's Awareness in Poultry Farming And its Impact on the Poultry Sector in Chattogram District

Abstract

Poultry farming is vital for livelihoods in Bangladesh, yet socio-economic factors significantly impact farming practices and disease management. This study evaluates the influence of socioeconomic status on poultry practices in the Raozan and Rangunia uupazilas of Chattogram District. We hypothesized that farmers' socio-economic status affects their practices, leading to variations in disease occurrence, vaccination rates, and brooder pneumonia cases. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 30 poultry farmers (19 commercial and 11 backyards) using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires assessing socio-economic variables, including education, profit, land ownership, and training participation, with associations analyzed using Pearson Chi-square. Results revealed significant associations between education levels and farming systems (P < 0.05), with more educated farmers favoring commercial farming. Commercial farmers reported higher profits, with 42.10% earning 20,000–30,000 BDT, compared to most backyard farmers earning only 2,000–3,000 BDT. Land ownership was also notable, with 63.15% of commercial farmers owning land versus 9.09% of backyard farmers (P < 0.05). Vaccination rates were significantly higher among commercial farmers, with 89.48% routinely vaccinating their flocks compared to 11.11% of backyard farmers (P < 0.05). Disease incidence was markedly greater in backyard farms (90.09%) than in commercial farms (21.05%) (P < 0.05). These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to enhance backyard farming through improved vaccination access and training, emphasizing policies that address socio-economic disparities to promote poultry farming sustainability and reduce zoonotic disease risks, including avian influenza.